Review of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Garcia ( Stohl

 I don't know how I missed reading this YA novel but after reading fairly good reviews for the movie, I decided it was time to read the book.  This tale of star-crossed lovers is full of Southern eccentrics and seems to simply drip with Spanish moss.  In spite of that or maybe because of that, I really loved this book.  The characters, Ethan and Lena, drew me in from the first page.  When Lena is bullied because she's so different, you root for her as you root for any bullied kid.  But Lena finds her hidden powers and fights back, especially when she has Ethan in her corner.  The supernatural aspects of the book were different enough to feel new and unusual - also loved the Civil War elements.  Highly recommended - four Elves

Review of INSURGENT by Veronica Roth

I wanted to love this sequel; I really enjoyed DIVERGENT.  But, as with so many sequels I've read lately, it seemed to have too much fighting for the revolution and not enough about the characters.  There was some insight into Tris's motivations and family and some about Tobias/Four's relationship with his parents, but it somehow wasn't satisfying.  The big reveal at the end, bringing a nice transition into the final book, was intriguing enough to tempt me to finish the trilogy.  3 Elves - Recommended

Review of CREWEL by Gennifer Albin

In this future world, women called Spinsters work the looms to determine the weather, grow crops, determine where people live, how many children they'll have and when they die.  Adelice has talents that her parents tried to hide from the Guild, but she is discovered and becomes a Spinster.  But although Spinsters live well, they cannot have love or marriage, so Adelice looks for a way to escape.  Unfortunately, she has a special gift - one that only comes along every few generations - that makes her invaluable to the Guild.  Can she escape her destiny and find love and family? 4 Elves - Highly Recommended

Review of THE FUTURE OF US - Asher & Mackler

The year is 1996 and Emma just got her first computer.  When her best friend, Josh, gives her an America Online CD, she powers up and finds herself on Facebook fifteen years in the future.  Facebook hasn't even been invented yet, but soon she is looking for her future and Josh's every day.  When she doesn't like her future, she does things to change it, like not applying for college in a city where she will meet her future husband.  But, changing the future has consequences, as she and Josh discover.  4 Elves - Highly Recommended

Review of BORN WICKED - Jessica Spotswood

Imagine an alternate 1890s New England where witches are hunted down and society controlled by The Brotherhood.  Young girls are expected to either marry or join The Sisterhood.  Cate Cahill and her sisters are considered antisocial by the townsfolk, but Cate is hiding the fact that she and her siblings are witches.  Before her mother died, she promised to watch out for her sisters and protect them from The Brotherhood,  but that job is proving extremely difficult, especially after discovering a secret that could change their fates forever.
3 Elves - Recommended

Review of THE CRIMSON CROWN

With this last book in the Seven Realms books, Cinda Williams Chima has created a satisfying ending for this epic series.  This book really moves along, with action, magic, intrigue, romance and peril.  Catching up with the characters and past events takes a bit of time (and I didn't want to reread the last book), but it is totally worth it.  Don't try to read this book without reading the earlier three books.  Highly recommended - 4 Elves

Review of THE RAVEN BOYS

THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater is the beginning of a new series, and it is a winner.  Teenager Blue comes from a family of eccentric clairvoyants.  Her family has repeatedly warned her that she will cause her true love to die.  On St. Mark's Eve, she accompanies her family to see the dead walk; she never sees them, but her powers help the dead speak.  For the first time this year, a dead boys speaks to her; the boy's name is Gansey, and he attends a school for the wealthy called Aglionby.  Blue is drawn to Gansey and his friends, known as The Raven Boys, and joins them in their search for a dead king.  As their friendship and the search progresses, Blue begins to hope that the prophecy won't come true.  The ending opens the door to more adventures of Blue and The Raven Boys.  4 Elves- Highly Recommended.